St. Clair Hospital HouseCal_Vol III Issue 3

VOLUME II, ISSUE 2

VOLUMEIII, II,ISSUE ISSUE32 VOLUME

INSIDE

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SIPE INFUSION CENTER OPENS Staff forms a special bond with patients

OVERCOMING BREAST CANCER

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WHEN THE DOCTOR BECOMES THE PATIENT

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ASK THE DOCTOR

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HEALTH GUIDE WEB RESOURCE

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COMMUNITY SURVEY

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ORT H OPEDIC SURGERY PATIENT REGAINS ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

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n outdoor enthusiast, avid golfer, and advertising executive with a

demanding career, Michael Brunner, a McMurray resident in his 50s, had found himself unable to perform at the high level he was used to because of an arthritic right

Sipe Infusion Center patient LIVIA BEBING with the Center’s LOUISE LIDDLE, R.N.

knee. While he damaged his knee playing high school sports, it has progressively gotten worse over the last 10 years and began imposing on his lifestyle.

“It was pretty much bone on bone at a certain point,” says Michael, chairman and

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t’s been 11 years since Livia Bebing was diagnosed with a bone marrow disorder, but she remembers the onset of symptoms like it was yesterday.

“I was exhausted,” the Scott Township resident recalls. “I could fall asleep at

any time. I couldn’t breathe and was always cold.”

But, as the daughter of an “old-school nurse,” Livia says she grew up with the

CEO of Brunner, based in Downtown

attitude of “get up and get on with it.” So, she soldiered on. But when she suspected

Pittsburgh. “There was a constant aching

she might have pneumonia, Livia went to see her primary care physician. Her PCP,

to my knee, and sometimes I just felt a

in turn, recommended she see a hematologist, a doctor who specializes in the

sharp, shooting pain.”

diagnosis and treatment of disorders of blood and blood-forming tissues.

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SIPE INFUSION CENTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Following a series of tests, including a bone marrow biopsy, St. Clair Hospital hematologist Louis D. Pietragallo, M.D. explained to Livia that she was suffering from MDS or Myelodysplastic Syndromes, a group of diseases that affect the bone marrow and blood. In MDS, a patient’s bone marrow does not make enough normal blood cells for the body, requiring the patient to receive regular transfusions of blood.

That was Livia’s introduction to the Hospital’s Infusion Center, where she received some 187 units of blood over the next four years. In the beginning, her condition required her to get blood once a month. But the frequency soon increased to every two weeks.

Livia says, at the time, there was nothing that could be done for her MDS, short of a bone marrow transplant. So she continued to regularly visit the Infusion Center, where she quickly

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there who were caring for her during each six-hour visit.

Livia is effusive in her praise of the nurses and staff at the Infusion Center, noting they understand the importance of “treating the whole person, not just the physical part.”

She also credits them with easing the transition from the Hospital’s former Infusion Center to its new Carol and Denny Sipe Infusion Center, which opened to patients in mid-July, following a formal dedication ceremony attended by members of the Sipe family.

Livia continued to regularly visit the Infusion Center, where she quickly developed a special relationship with the nurses and other staff there.

developed a special relationship with the nurses and other staff Livia says she never met benefactor Denny Sipe, who This view from a nurse’s station in the new Sipe Infusion Center shows treatment chairs in private areas that were designed with patient input.

was a patient at the former Infusion Center, but heard stories of his camaraderie with employees in the Infusion Center and throughout the Hospital.

Denny, who passed away in January of this year, helped gather input from other patients as to what they would like to see in the new center, which is on the Third Floor of the Hospital, just steps from the Visitors’ Elevators.

The results include 11 heated treatment chairs that also provide a soothing vibration to the lower back. Each chair also comes with its own flat-panel television. Patients also have access to the Internet. Treatment areas are separated by privacy walls outfitted with frosted windows that patients can slide open if they wish to converse with patients in adjoining areas. In addition to the 11 treatment chairs, the center includes four private beds for patients.

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to mature.” Today, she no longer needs blood transfusions.

But she now comes to the Sipe Infusion Center for injections of Vidaza, a drug similar to Revlimid, for her MDS. She receives the injections on five consecutive days, once a month.

Livia says all of the medical personnel at St. Clair Hospital are both gifted and “incredibly nice,” citing Dr. Pietragallo, her gynecologist Stephanie S. Brown, M.D., and her podiatric surgeon David C. Puleo, D.P.M. of the Hospital’s Wound Care Center, by name.

“The medical care you get at St. Clair is great,” Livia says.

“But it is the personal care and attention you get here that puts A private bed in the new Sipe Infusion Center.

St. Clair above all others.”

Comfort is paramount at the center in that many outpatients spend up to eight hours in the treatment chairs

SIPE INFUSION CENTER SERVICES

receiving blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and injections or infusions for various ailments such as Crohn’s Disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, and other auto-immune diagnoses.

(Please see list of services at right.) The center also performs

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Administration of IV Chemotherapy agents, IV hydration, medications and antibiotics

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Administration of blood/blood components (6-8 hour procedure)

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Therapeutic phlebotomy

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Obtaining specimens for designated lab studies such as skin test, stimulation test, tolerance tests

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Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters and mid-line catheter insertions

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Maintenance of IV devices, including de-clotting of central IV catheters and repair of tunneled IV device

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Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections

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Administration of first dose for home infusion services

procedures such as peripherally inserted central catheters and phlebotomy (the withdrawal of blood).

For Livia, phlebotomy became a familiar word. She says Dr. Pietragallo enrolled her in a trial for a new experimental drug called Revlimid for her MDS. She says patients on Revlimid require “lots of transfusions” when they first start taking the drug, which is administered in pill form. But getting four units of blood a week for four weeks can lead to an excessive amount of iron in the system. So she had to regularly visit the Infusion Center to have the excess iron removed.

Livia says so many visits were obviously time-consuming, but she credited the Infusion Center’s convenient hours, which include Saturdays, with helping her manage her visits with her full-time job as a producer for INPEX, the Invention & New Product Exposition, which has been held in Pittsburgh for the last 26 years.

She also credits Dr. Pietragallo with helping her with her MDS. She says the Revlimid, which is now FDA-approved, “cleaned out my bone marrow and allowed my red blood cells

With a physician’s order, patients can schedule appointments by contacting the Sipe Infusion Center at 412.942.3550. For added convenience, patients may also pre-register through Patient Access Services when making the appointment.

The Center is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

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Dr. Tucker uses state-of-the-art, minimal incision surgical techniques

ORTHO PATIENT REGAINS LIFESTYLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Like anyone who has experienced similar symptoms,

somewhat and actually pushed back the potential for surgery for about three years. But soon the pain became intolerable, to the point where he had to begin eliminating his favorite

Michael tried everything to alleviate the pain, including

sporting activities like working out and golfing. Even walking

over-the-counter medication for pain and arthritis, cortisone

caused discomfort, and he would have to stop and take breaks

shots, as well as braces to support the knee during physical

when walking Downtown.

activity. He also received an injection of hyaluronic acid, derived from rooster combs, every six months. This alleviated the pain

Finally, Michael elected to have total knee replacement surgery. After doing some extensive research, he selected Jon B. Tucker, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at St. Clair Hospital.

Maintaining a leading edge in his areas of subspecialization, Dr. Tucker is also a consultant to a major implant technology company in the design of new surgical implants and innovative techniques. He holds patents in the design of several surgical instruments.

“The predictability, durability, and quality of total knee replacements improved substantially over the past 30 years to the point where younger people, under the age of 60, who undergo this procedure can expect to have outcomes that are compatible with returning to very active lifestyles,” says Dr. Tucker.

According to Dr. Tucker, about a third of individuals who have arthritis of the knee and require surgery are good candidates for a smaller operation, a partial knee replacement.

People in this category have arthritis limited to only one part of the knee. While technically demanding in the OR and requiring special surgical training, the experience for the patient is easier and offers a much quicker recovery than a total knee replacement. In most cases, patients, including Michael, have knees that are totally involved with arthritis

DR. TUCKER ’S orthopedic patient, MICHAEL BRUNNER, outside of his Downtown office.

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and need full replacement knee surgery.

to lessen pain and increase strength and mobility for patients.

Surgery becomes necessary when they reach the point where they are unable to carry out their daily activities without severe pain or cannot do them at all.

“Combine these limitations with the failure of conservative treatments like injections, anti-inflammatory medicines and activity modifications, then you are a candidate for knee replacement surgery,” Dr. Tucker says.

Dr. Tucker and his team pay close attention to best practices for knee replacements. He uses a state-of-the-art surgical technique, known as a minimal incision Subvastus approach, which leaves patients with less pain, more strength, and better mobility more quickly after surgery because no muscles or tendons are cut.

JON B. TUCKER, M.D. reviews a knee x-ray with his staff.

properly. Dr. Tucker says that patients have a 99 percent

“

I’m able to walk,

ride a bike, and play golf

”

without pain.

– Knee replacement patient Michael Brunner

“While this approach is more difficult for the surgeon in

chance that they’ll still be doing well after that first year and a 90 percent to 95 percent chance that they will do well for 20 or more years. Fortunately most implants that loosen or wear out can be safely revised in a second surgery.

Michael’s knee was operated on earlier this year and after four months of intensive physical therapy, he’s feeling great.

Although he still experiences aches from time to time, the difference for Michael now is that the pain goes away.

“Right now, it’s all systems go,” he says. “I feel like I’m able to do things I want to do without pain. I’m not able to play basketball or singles’ tennis, but I couldn’t do that before the

the OR, it’s much better for the patient,” Dr. Tucker says.

surgery anyway,” he says with a laugh. “But I’m able to walk,

“I’ve also eliminated the use of a surgical drain in the knee

ride a bike, and play golf. I can do that without pain and

and I use long-duration nerve blocks after surgery—there’s

therefore that allows me to function at a higher level, which

less pain and less blood loss for the patients.”

is important to me.”

After meeting with Dr. Tucker, Michael felt comfortable in moving forward with the surgery. “I thought he had a thorough, straightforward, and fact-based approach,” recalls Michael.

“He answered every question I asked and explained it to me in terms that I could understand. I also didn’t feel as though he was looking at the clock when I was speaking with him.”

Since they are durable devices, partial and total knee

JON B. TUCKER, M.D. earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He completed his internship in general surgery, residency in Orthopedic Surgery and a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.

replacements last 20 years or longer if they are implanted 5

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BREAST CANCER BreastOVERCOMING Cancer Suvrivor’s Inspiring Story

Mary Lynn Heindl

W

hen Mary Lynn Heindl, 74, of Mt. Lebanon was

“One day I just started experiencing chest pains, and

diagnosed with breast cancer on March 17, she

since my family has a history of heart disease, I thought I

was flabbergasted. An avid swimmer and gardener who

was having a heart attack,” Mary says. “To discover that I

loves working in her yard, Mary had been in near perfect

had breast cancer absolutely shocked me.”

health her entire life, with the exception of high

Mary’s primary care physician recommended that she

cholesterol. Breast cancer was the last thing she figured

see Raye J. Budway, M.D., the newest addition to the

she’d be diagnosed with.

Breast Surgery program at St. Clair Hospital. Dr. Budway

DR. BUDWAY talks with patient MARY LYNN HEINDL in a follow-up visit after her breast surgery.

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specializes in the diagnosis, workup and treatment of

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“Dr. Budway was very gracious,” says Mary. “She took

breast cancer. As a participating surgeon in the recent

the time to answer every question I had, while explaining

National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project’s

the whole process of cancer, possible treatment options,

(NSABP) clinical trials, her work has helped inform

and how my body would react to various treatments.”

changes in the treatment protocols for breast cancer,

More importantly, Mary says that her impending

a disease which affects more than 200,000 women and

surgery didn’t seem as intimidating after speaking

men annually.

with Dr. Budway.

Dr. Budway operated on Mary on April 15, performing

“She explained the surgical process to me in great

a left segmental mastectomy, needle localization, sentinel

detail,” says Mary. “I knew exactly what was going to

lymph node dissection. The NSABP, which is supported

happen during the surgery so I felt more involved in

by the National Cancer Institute, has published studies

the entire process. As a result, it didn’t seem so scary

that have led to the establishment of lumpectomy with

to me. She put me at ease and I didn’t have any

radiation over radical mastectomy as the standard surgical

reservations anymore.”

treatment for breast cancer.

“While we discussed several surgical options, I was really interested in a minimally invasive approach to surgery and opted for that,” says Mary. “I thought that

A couple of months after her surgery, Mary says she’s feeling wonderful.

“I’m getting my energy back and feeling well,” she says. “All of my tests have come back and it has been looking good.”

Mary’s advice for others who are experiencing the same apprehension about breast cancer surgery is to

A couple of months after her surgery, Mary says she’s feeling wonderful.

visit with a surgeon like Dr. Budway — someone who instills confidence in you and addresses your concerns in a patient and understanding manner.

“You don’t want a physician or surgeon who is going to sugarcoat everything for you,” she says. “You want someone who is confident and calm because they will make you feel the same way.”

minimally invasive surgery was cutting-edge and I wanted to have the most modern technique available.”

As a surgeon, Dr. Budway is a proponent of a less invasive surgical approach to breast cancer, and sees herself as an educator and partner in her patient’s treatment. One of her most important roles, she says, is to guide her patients through the unfamiliar and upending journey of breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, step by step. Mary could certainly attest to that. Because of the instant rapport she developed with Dr. Budway, she felt at ease before, during and after her surgery.

RAYE J. BUDWAY, M.D. earned her medical degree at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. She completed her residency training in general surgery at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and additional training in surgical critical care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She served as the Site Surgical Clerkship Program Director for Temple University Medical School, Site Program Director for the Allegheny General Hospital General Surgery Residency program and Director of the Surgical Breast Disease Program and Surgical Intensive Care at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital. She is board certified in surgical critical care and general surgery. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and serves on the Fellowship's Commission on Cancer.

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St. Clair Cardiologist Shares Patient Experience

F

or the past 24 years, St. Clair cardiologist James

following an 18-hour work day, he was prompted to

MacDougall, M.D. has been focused on providing

schedule a leg ultrasound the next morning. The

the highest level of compassionate care to his patients.

results of the ultrasound were conclusive—his entire

But earlier this year, he found himself in a very different

right leg was clotted.

role—that as patient.

Dr. MacDougall developed deep vein thrombosis, or DVT—a highly treatable condition that nonetheless claims the lives of 100,000 individuals annually. DVT is the formation of a blood clot or thrombus in one or more of the deep veins in the

“As a physician, I understood immediately the danger of the situation,” Dr. MacDougall said. “I knew that a clot could travel to my lungs and was potentially lethal.”

Since DVT blocks blood flow, it creates blood clots that can break loose at any time and travel through the blood to the lungs causing a condition known as pulmonary embolism, or PE. PE can obstruct circulation

body, usually attacking the

to vital organs, causing organ damage

legs. When Dr. MacDougall

or, in some cases, death.

began experiencing symptoms

After immediately being

of DVT—including a persistent

placed on blood thinners, Dr.

soreness above his right knee

MacDougall was scheduled that

joint for several weeks—he initially believed it was the result of a recent weekend of skiing.

But after his right leg became significantly swollen

Cardiologist JAMES H. MACDOUGALL, M.D. confers with his practice manager, TONI SCHULZENDORF.

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afternoon to have the clot removed. Fortunately, he

dissolved the clot, allowing the liquefied clot to be

didn’t have to travel far. St. Clair Hospital is among the

extracted from Dr. MacDougall’s vein.

leading hospitals in the country to offer a new, highly

With his leg feeling significantly better, Dr.

specialized medical treatment for DVT—the Covidien

MacDougall was discharged the next day and returned

Trellis system of mechanical thrombolysis, or clot

to work two days later. To prevent further clots from

removal. The innovative Trellis system is designed to

forming, he took a blood-thinning medication for the

swiftly break down and remove dangerous blood clots in

next six months.

one to two hours, and generally requires only a one

Dr. MacDougall is fortunate to have recognized the

night hospital stay. St. Clair surgeon and colleague

symptoms of DVT (Please see DVT Primer, Page 11), since

David Catalane, M.D. would perform the procedure.

an early diagnosis and treatment is vital to protecting an individual’s long-term health. If clots are not treated aggressively, post-thrombotic syndrome can develop—a

“

My anxiety was certainly heightened, but Dr. Catalane explained the procedure well, and it sounded very straightforward.

–James H. MacDougall, M.D.

”

While Dr. MacDougall is perfectly comfortable

condition that results in damage to the valves in the large veins. The lasting effects of post-thrombotic syndrome can be quite disabling, including chronic swelling, the development of varicose veins and/or CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Direction of blood flow Superficial vein

Muscle

Skin

performing his duties as a seasoned cardiologist, assuming the patient role was new territory. He found himself experiencing an emotion common to the majority of patients—anxiety.

“My anxiety was certainly heightened,” he says. “But Dr. Catalane explained the procedure well, and it

Thrombosis in deep vein

sounded very straightforward. One thing he said stayed with me, however. He told me, ‘If we don’t do this procedure and only treat this clot conservatively, the leg will bother you for the rest of your life.’ That was

Swelling and inflammation below blockage

all I needed to hear.”

St. Clair’s Trellis system enabled Dr. Catalane to quickly isolate Dr. MacDougall’s blood clot on both sides by a balloon that had been carefully guided through his vein. A clot-busting drug was then injected into the clot

Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is the formation of a blood clot in the deep veins of the body. The clot can potentially travel and be fatal if not treated.

via a specialized spinning wire. The spinning action 9

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ASK THE DOCTOR Q: I’ve been reading a lot lately about hospital-associated infections. What are the primary causes and are there any precautions my family and I can take to avoid these infections in a hospital?

A:

In 1847 Ignacz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician

working in Vienna, revolutionized hospital care by discovering that physicians were infecting mothers who had just given birth. He further discovered that, if physicians wash their hands with a diluted chlorinated lime solution, they could decrease the incidence of these infections. Prior to that, mothers had a higher likelihood of dying during childbirth in a hospital than at home.

While the risk of hospital-associated infections is still a reality

someone infected with MRSA. This bacteria can be anywhere in our environment, and is particularly present where there are lots of sick people, such as nursing homes.

STEPHEN M. COLODNY, M.D.

Another very difficult problem is

Clostridium difficile colitis (C. Diff), a diarrheal illness that we usually see in patients who are receiving, or have recently received, antibiotics. It can cause anything from mild diarrhea to severe illness requiring removal of the colon or even death.

C. Diff can easily contaminate the environment and can be transmitted to others’ hands.

If you are in a hospital, you will notice there are some rooms with signs indicating isolation. This means that staff members must wear gowns and gloves before entering, and must wash their hands when they leave. This is to prevent the spread of

even in 2011, hospitals, including St. Clair, have taken the

these and other bacteria. Unfortunately, some hospital

approach that most, if not all, of these infections, can be prevented.

visitors―perhaps believing they are at no risk and are no risk

In fact, St. Clair is very proud of its results. The Hospital has

to others ― do not wear the gown and gloves.

decreased the incidence of certain infections to a rate that is

We are looking to residents of the community to help us

near zero. Central line associated bacteremias (CLABS),

make progress in fighting these difficult infections by following

infections from large IV catheters used in the sickest patients,

the same precautions we do, and by washing their hands

have gone from 13 to one in the past five years. Infections from

before and after they interact with their loved ones. I’m

urinary catheters and in patients on life-supporting breathing

confident that with the help of our strong community, and

machines (ventilators) are near zero.

our continuous efforts, we’ll make progress on even the most

One particularly stubborn bacteria is Methicillin Resistant

stubborn hospital-associated infections.

Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA. Prevalent in the community, it causes many different hospital-associated infections, from pneumonia to wound infection, to infections in the blood stream.

It is hard to treat, and can be fatal. Some hospital patients may have this bacteria on their skin before becoming sick with it, while, in others, it is brought to them by someone else, either directly, or by touching an object such as a doorknob, bedside table or elevator button, that had previously been touched by 10

STEPHEN M. COLODNY, M.D. earned his medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Bayside Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in infectious disease at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn. He is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Colodny is Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at St. Clair Hospital and practices with Pittsburgh Infectious Diseases, Ltd.

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Role Reversal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

ulcerations, and changes in skin color. Although blood-thinning medications are helpful in treating post-thrombotic syndrome, the disorder never completely disappears; therefore, aggressive treatment of clots—within 14 days—is essential in avoiding or lessening complications.

Unfortunately, many individuals disregard the symptoms of

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DVT Primer

by Samuel T. Simone, Jr., M.D. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a condition where a blood clot (thrombus) forms in the vein (most commonly found in the leg). The clot can limit blood flow through the vein that can lead to any or all of the following symptoms in the involved leg: • Pain • Swelling

• Warmth • Redness

DVT—which include leg pain and tenderness, swelling, weakness, skin that is warm to the touch, and discoloration of the skin— believing them to be normal symptoms of aging. But Dr. Catalane urges individuals to be especially attentive and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms coincide during or after a long car, train, bus, or plane ride, if your body is dehydrated, if you take birth control medication, if you smoke, or if you are overweight.

While Dr. MacDougall is grateful that the DVT in his leg was

Common risk factors: • Previous DVT/ Pulmonary Embolus

• Certain Medications - Birth Control Pills - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Tamoxifen

• Bleeding Disorder • Cancer • Obesity • Pregnancy

diagnosed and treated immediately —allowing him to quickly

• Smoking

return to his role as St. Clair cardiologist—his experiences as

• Major Surgery

• Trauma • Prolonged sitting, especially for six or more hours on a plane, in a car or bedrest

a patient have further solidified the high regard he has always felt for his workplace.

“Everyone at St. Clair was so friendly, so professional. I couldn’t have been more pleased. And the results of the Trellis procedure were fantastic. My leg is perfect. I can’t speak highly enough of Dr. Catalane and St. Clair Hospital.”

DAVID B. CATALANE, M.D. earned his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed his residency at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Catalane practices with Catalane Surgical Associates, P.C.

JAMES H. MACDOUGALL, M.D. earned his medical degree at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University and completed his internship, residency and fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. MacDougall practices with South Hills Cardiology Associates.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis – If a patient’s history, symptoms and physical exam have the appearance of a DVT, tests will be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Tests may include x-rays, ultrasonography, Venography and a D-dimer blood test.

Deep Vein Thrombosis Treatment – The goal of treatment is to prevent additional clots from forming and preventing a Pulmonary Embolus (blood clot in the lung). Anticoagulation is the main treatment and in some individuals a filter in the vena cava may be recommended. Recommended anticoagulation can range from 6 months to lifelong, depending on the particular situation.

SAMUEL T. SIMONE, JR., M.D. is Chief of the Section of Vascular Surgery at St. Clair Hospital.

He earned his medical degree at Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., and completed his internship and residency in general surgery at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, and a fellowship in vascular surgery at Presbyterian-University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia. Dr. Simone is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He practices with General & Vascular Surgery Associates.

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ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL 1000 Bower Hill Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243 VOLUME II, ISSUE 2

H EALTHY INFO ONLINE WWW.STCLAIR.ORG

Filled with nearly 40,000 pages of information, St. Clair Hospital’s online Health Guide helps patients check symptoms,

ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL

research a health topic,

General & Patient Information 412.942.4000

gain information on

Physician Referral Service 412.942.6560

medications, and even

Outpatient Center—Village Square 412.942.7100 Medical Imaging Scheduling 412.942.8150

answer questions about an upcoming surgery. While an online guide can’t replace a visit with your physician, this valuable resource can

www.stclair.org Follow us on twitter at: www.twitter.com/stclairhospital

help make you a more informed patient so you can better manage your health and that of your family.

Visit www.stclair.org and click on the Health Guide tab.

HouseCall is a publication of St. Clair Hospital. Articles are for informational purposes and are not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your personal physician.

H EALTHY FEEDBACK

St. Clair Hospital Seeks Input On Community Health Needs

S

Health Needs Assessment the Hospital is currently conducting.”

important for their respective communities. You can submit your

one-on-one meetings with community officials and a series of

opinion via the Hospital’s website where you will be directed to

smaller meetings and focus groups.

t. Clair Hospital is reaching out to area residents seeking

their opinions on which health needs they deem most

a series of questions that help identify the health issues most important to area residents.

Topics cover the types of experiences encountered when

Other aspects of the outreach assessment include conducting

Once the assessment is complete, the health needs identified in which St. Clair can have the greatest impact will be addressed through new or redesigned programs.

trying to obtain health care, satisfaction with services in the

To access the online St. Clair Hospital health needs survey,

community, barriers to local services, and identification of major

please visit www.stclair.org.

health issues facing the community.

“Through this grassroots approach we hope to gain further insight into what matters most to area residents,” said Andrea L. Kalina, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Advancement at St. Clair. “This is just one, but a very important part, of a multifaceted Community